Amy Carter: Life, Family & Legacy Of A President's Daughter
What happens when a child grows up in the full glare of the media spotlight? For Amy Carter, the only daughter of former President Jimmy Carter, the answer is a life deliberately lived outside of that glare, yet indelibly marked by a commitment to service and advocacy. Though she may not often grace headlines today, Amy Carter's journey from a White House child to a dedicated human rights advocate is a compelling narrative of personal evolution and unwavering dedication.
Now at the age of 56, Amy Carter embodies a multifaceted identity: a mother, an artist, and a passionate champion for human rights. Her childhood was anything but ordinary. Born on October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia, to Jimmy Carter and his wife, Eleanor Rosalynn Smith (better known as Rosalynn Carter), Amy's life took an unexpected turn when her father's political career propelled her into the national spotlight. At the tender age of three, she experienced a taste of celebrity when Jimmy Carter was elected as the governor of Georgia. This initial exposure to public life was merely a prelude to the extraordinary experience of residing in the White House, beginning at the age of nine, during her father's presidency from 1977 to 1981. Indeed, the decision to have Amy was even made by vote in the family even before she was born. They reportedly even chose her name from a Webster's dictionary.
Her father, Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, surrounded by his family, had four children with Rosalynn Carter: three sons, Jack, Jeff, and Chip, and their youngest, Amy. While her brothers were grown when Jimmy Carter assumed the presidency, Amy experienced a pivotal part of her childhood within the walls of the White House. On November 3, 1976, Jimmy Carter stood behind a podium, flashing the victory sign alongside his family and supporters.
| Full Name | Amy Lynn Carter |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1967 |
| Place of Birth | Plains, Georgia, USA |
| Parents | Jimmy Carter (father), Rosalynn Carter (mother) |
| Siblings | Jack Carter, Jeff Carter, Chip Carter |
| Education | Attended Tulane University, Brown University (B.A. in Art History), |
| Occupation | Artist, Human Rights Advocate, Board Member of The Carter Center |
| Marital Status | Married to John Joseph "Jay" Kelly |
| Previous Marriage | James Gregory Wentzel (married 1996, divorced 2007) |
| Children | Hugo James Wentzel, one son with John Joseph Kelly (name kept private) |
| Residence | Atlanta area |
| Known For | Daughter of President Jimmy Carter, human rights advocacy, artistic pursuits |
| Website | The Carter Center |
Amy's unique upbringing shaped her in profound ways. In February 21, 1977, during a White House state dinner for Canadas Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, the nine-year-old Amy was photographed reading 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator' and 'The Story of the Gettysburg Address' as her father and Trudeau exchanged formal toasts. This image, and others like it, cemented her place in the collective memory of the nation, portraying her as a child balancing the extraordinary circumstances of her life with the ordinary joys of childhood. By the time she was nine, Amy was living in the White House and had become one of the youngest children to do so.
Amy's family life was forever altered with the passing of her mother, Rosalynn, in November 2023. Rosalynn Carter once said, "So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life." Her words reflect the Carter family's steadfast commitment to unity and togetherness, values that Amy continues to uphold. Washington witnessed former President Jimmy Carter's youngest child and only daughter honoring her father on the highest national stage.
Amys post-White House life reflects a deliberate choice to step away from the intense scrutiny she experienced as a child. While she had previously married James Gregory Wentzel, a computer consultant, in September 1996, and welcomed a son, Hugo James Wentzel, on July 29, 1999, the marriage ended in divorce in 2007. Later, she married John Joseph "Jay" Kelly. Amy, now 57, resides in the Atlanta area with her husband, John Joseph Jay Kelly, and their sons, Hugo and his half-brother (whose name is kept private). Hugo is Amy Carter's son, who was born on July 29, 1999. After her marriage to Wentzel, Carter led a quieter and more private life, rarely appearing in public.
Education has been a cornerstone of Amy's life. She enrolled at Tulane University and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from Brown University. Her academic pursuits reflect a keen interest in the arts and a desire to understand the world through a historical and cultural lens. She is one of the four children of Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter has a total number of four children with Rosalynn Carter, the youngest being their only daughter, Amy Carter.
Today, Amy Carter leads a quieter life in Atlanta, Georgia. In this new chapter, she is an artist and human rights advocate. She uses her voice and artistic talents to champion causes she believes in. She remains actively involved with the Carter Center, the organization founded by her father to promote human rights and global peace. As a board member, Amy plays a key role in continuing the Carter familys humanitarian legacy.
The Carter children were among those seated in front at the funeral for President Jimmy Carter, including Carter's youngest child and only daughter Amy, who was a big part of her family's story. Her brothers are James Carter IV (Jimmys son with his first wife, Caron Griffin), Jack, Jeff and Chip Carter. James Carter IV made headlines during the 2012 presidential election when he helped leak footage of Mitt Romney.
Amy Carter, the only daughter of former President Jimmy Carter, was born in 1967, in Plains, Georgia. She moved into the White House at the age of nine, making her one of the youngest children to experience life in the executive mansion. She gained public attention during her childhood while residing in the White House during her father's presidency. On October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia, Amy was the youngest of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carters four children. The Carters took a vote on whether to have another child. President Carter's youngest child, Amy Carter, was born in Plains, Georgia.
The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, served from 1977 to 1981. Amy was just 9 years old when her father entered office. Born to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter on October 19, 1967, in Plains, Georgia, Amys birth was a family decision. She has one son, Hugo.
Amy's life, both in and out of the White House, has been marked by a commitment to family, education, and service. From a childhood decision made by her family to have another child, to her current role at the Carter Center, Amy Carter embodies a life of purpose and dedication. Her story underscores the profound impact of family legacy, personal choice, and the enduring power of quiet strength in a world often captivated by the spectacle of public life. Her family legacy is rooted in service, education, and involvement in the community; she also has grandchildren.
Amy Carter's journey is a testament to the enduring power of family values and the profound impact of a life lived with purpose and dedication. Though she may have stepped away from the relentless glare of the spotlight, her commitment to service and advocacy continues to shine brightly, illuminating a path for future generations to follow.
It was then that her father, American politician Jimmy Carter, became governor of the US state of Georgia. Six years later, she graduated from a governors daughter to a president []. Jimmy carter with family and supporters behind a podium waving the victory sign on november 3, 1976. Amy carter was born in georgia, usa, on october 19th 1967, to jimmy carter and his wife, eleanor rosalyn smith. Serving as a board member, amy plays a key role in continuing the carter familys humanitarian legacy. He disclosed this in the jimmy carter: Rock & roll president documentary, which featured interviews with the likes of bob dylan, bono, and nelson. Jimmy and rosalynn carters last two children together president jimmy carter and his large family, all wearing hats customized with their names, in the living room of their plains, georgia home.
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Details on Jimmy Rosalynn Carter’s Daughter Amy Carter’s Life Now
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